Programs Highlights

Here are just a few of the more than 100 different programs:

BEETHOVEN AND THE AMERICANS
Program includes Für Elise (who was she and why did Beethoven write this work for her?), the boisterous Rage Over a Lost Penny, the Moonlight Sonata - a shocking, revolutionary composition - and masterpieces of three great American composers--- Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein (including the local premiere of his unpublished Meditation on a Wedding) and George Gershwin, featuring his rarely heard solo piano transcription of Rhapsody in Blue.

THERE'S MORE TO MOZART THAN AMADEUS!
The romantic Mozart as seen through the delightful Variations on Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, the brooding, introspective A Minor Rondo, the stormy and powerful C Minor Sonata and the high-spirited, elegant G Major Sonata.

LIONS OF LYRICISM: CHOPIN, LISZT, AND GRIEG
Virtuoso 19th century music at its best! The heroic C Minor Polonaise, the vibrant A-flat Waltz and dreamy D-flat Nocturne of Chopin, the exhilarating Hungarian Rhapsody No. 10 of Liszt, and the tender Lyric Pieces and zesty Slätter of Grieg.

THE ROMANTICISM OF THE RUSSIAN SOUL:
RACHMANINOFF, SCRIABIN, AND MEDTNER
Program contains the stirring, rhapsodic Preludes of Rachmaninoff, the exotic and mystical Sonata No. 4 of Scriabin and the picturesque Fairy Tales of Nikolai Medtner.

A CHOPIN SHOWCASE
Program features well-known works such as the Fantasie Impromptu, the B-flat Minor Scherzo, as well as little-known gems such as the Polonaise in G minor (written when the composer was seven years old), and the Variations Brillantes, Op. 12, among others.

FRANZ LISZT: THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT!
Diabolically inspired masterpieces, including the composer's dazzling, rarely played solo piano transcription of Totentanz (Dance of Death), plus such popular works as Mephisto Waltz.

SPECIAL FAMILY CONCERT:
MUSIC FOR THE YOUNG AND THE YOUNG AT HEART
The perfect musical event for anyone ages 6 to 106! An attractive assortment of highly entertaining short pieces - familiar tunes that have delighted listeners for decades! Program includes The Flight of the Bumblebee, The Bear Dance, Mozart's Variations on Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star and the Polonaise of the seven-year-old Chopin.

THE POWER AND PASSION OF BEETHOVEN:
THE APPASSIONATA AND MOONLIGHT SONATAS
Hear two of Beethoven's greatest sonatas and find out why the Appassionata has been called the "violent eruption of an afflicted soul" and why the "dear old Moonlight" is a shocking, revolutionary composition.

MISTRESSES AND MASTERPIECES
Immortal works of great composers inspired by "significant others" in their lives. Program features the "Adagio" from Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2, Schumann's Variations on a theme by Clara Wieck and Symphonic Etudes, and Liszt's Liesbesträume.

AMERICAN PIANISTIC TREASURES
Well-loved classics and some welcome musical discoveries by George Gershwin, Leonard Bernstein, Scott Joplin, Samuel Barber and others.

ROMANTIC FANTASIES
Bach's Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue, Mozart's D Minor Fantasy, Schubert's Wanderer Fantasy and John Corigliano's Fantasy on an Ostinato.

SENSUOUS SONORITIES OF DEBUSSY
An exotic, enchanting feast for the ears! Program includes twelve of the composer's colorful Preludes, the popular Clair de lune and the puckish Golliwog's Cake-Walk.

PASSION, POETRY, AND POPULARITY: BEETHOVEN, SCHUBERT, AND WEBER
Program begins with the ever-popular Invitation to the Dance of Weber, continues with the hauntingly beautiful Unfinished Sonata of Schubert and concludes with Beethoven's beloved Les Adieux Sonata, expressing the farewell, absence and return of a special friend.

THE ROMANTIC BALLADE
Musical story telling! Tales related in musical tones. Program includes the Edward Ballade of Brahms, the haunting Ballade of Edvard Grieg and Chopin's Ballades in A-flat major and G minor.

RHAPSODY!
Rhapsodic pianistic compositions by Brahms; Hungarian Rhapsodies of Liszt; and Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin---in the composer's own rarely performed solo piano transcription.

AGONY AND ECSTASY:
PASSIONATE PIANO MUSIC OF CLARA AND ROBERT SCHUMANN
Romantic piano music inspired by one of music history's great nineteenth century love stories. Program includes Clara Schumann's G Minor Romance and Robert Schumann's majestic C Major Fantasy, with a recently discovered "alternate ending".

IMMORTAL CLASSICAL MASTERS: HAYDN, MOZART, AND HUMMEL
Program includes the hilarious Fantasy in C, the saucy Gypsy Rondo and the brooding, darkly expressive C Minor Sonata of Haydn, the operatically melodious F Major Sonata of Mozart and the witty, humorous Rondo of Mozart's star pupil, Johann Nepomuk Hummel.

COUNTERPARTS IN COUNTERPOINT: BACH AND HINDEMITH
Hear two masterpieces separated by two centuries---Bach's Partita No. 5 in G (1729) and Hindemith's Sonata No. 3 (1936).

BEETHOVEN: SPLENDOR FROM SILENCE
The monumental Sonata in A-flat Major, Op. 110, written when the composer was totally deaf, and his witty, humorous Bagatelles.